Jerry Fowlds is 'n bekende figuur in Meyerton, waar hy vir 43 jaar skoolgegee het. Hy was altyd baie aktief en het alles van staptoere, fietstoere en daguitstappies gereël. In 2011 is hy met prostaatkanker gediagnoseer en het bestraling daarvoor ontvang. Hy was vir twee jaar in remissie, totdat daar in 2014 kankergewasse in sy buik gevind is. Die komplikasies van die bestraling het egter 'n groot
negatiewe uitwerking op sy lewenskwaliteit gehad. Sedertdien het hy gesukkel met sy been. Die laaste paar jaar was 'n groot uitdaging vir Mnr. Jerry, aangesien sy been al hoe meer probleme begin gee het, en in 2023 het hy homself bedlêend bevind. Na besoeke aan 11 verskillende dokters is vasgestel dat hy 'n heupvervanging benodig. Die dokter het die operasie as een van die moeilikste in sy loopbaan beskryf weens die verbrokkeling van sy been. Dit het egter nie die probleem opgelos nie, aangesien littekenweefsel in sy lies die bloedvloei en limfdreinering beïnvloed, en senuwees vasdruk. In 2024 het hy 'n limfchirurg geraadpleeg wat hoopvol is dat 'n prosedure (vier limfomleidings) sy limfdreinering sal verbeter. Hierdie prosedure word egter nie as 'n “mediese intervensie” gesien nie, omdat dit nog baie nuut in Suid-Afrika is, en word dus slegs gedeeltelik deur die mediese fonds gedek. Die gedeelte wat hy self moet betaal, word konserwatief beraam op R100 000. Dit sluit nie al die nasorg in, soos wondsorg, spesiale verbande, fisioterapie, ensovoorts, nie. Tot op hede het hy al die addisionele koste en sorg vir die afgelope paar jaar uit sy eie sak betaal. Hierdie prosedure is slegs een van drie wat hy moet ondergaan om hopelik sy lewenskwaliteit ten volle te herstel en sonder daaglikse, ondraaglike pyn te wees. Enige donasie om vir Mnr Jerry weer Hoop op Loop te gee word opreg waardeer! Jerry Fowlds is a well-known figure in Meyerton, where he taught for 43 years. He was always very active and organised everything from hiking trips, cycling tours, and day trips. In 2011, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent radiation therapy for it. He was in remission for two years until cancerous growths were found in his abdomen in 2014. He then underwent further radiation therapy. The complications from the radiation, however, had a significant negative impact on his quality of life. Since then, he has struggled with his leg. The last few years have been a major challenge for Mr. Jerry, as his leg started to cause more and more problems, and in 2023, he found himself bedridden. After visiting 11 different doctors, it was determined that he needed a hip replacement. The doctor described the surgery as one of the most difficult in his career due to the crumbling of his bone. However, this did not solve the problem, as scar tissue in his groin affected blood flow, lymphatic drainage and compressed nerves. In 2024, he consulted a lymphatic surgeon who is hopeful that a procedure (four lymphatic bypasses) will improve his lymphatic drainage. However, this procedure is not regarded as a “medical intervention” because it is still very new in South Africa, and it is therefore only partially covered by his medical aid. The portion he needs to pay himself is conservatively estimated at R100,000. This does not include all the aftercare, such as wound care, special dressings, physiotherapy, and so on. To date, he has been paying all the additional costs and care for the past few years out of his own pocket. This procedure is only one of three that he must undergo in the hope of fully restoring his quality of life and being free from daily, unbearable pain. Any donation to help give Mr. Jerry Hope to Walk again is sincerely appreciated!
